How To Swaddle A Baby: Step-By-Step Guide & Safety Tips

Although swaddling is an age-old practice to comfort the baby, many new parents may wonder how to swaddle a baby to soothe them. Babies are wrapped up in soft blankets to make them feel secure and safe and promote sleep. Newborns may feel similar to being in their mother’s womb when they are tucked in a blanket, which helps comfort them (1). The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends swaddling babies to promote longer sleep (2).

Read on to know how to swaddle a baby correctly and the safety measures and benefits to consider while swaddling a baby.

Is Swaddling Safe?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that swaddling a baby is safe when done properly (1). It can help keep the baby warm, soothe the baby and promote good sleep. It also suggests placing the baby on their back while swaddling to create a safe sleep environment. The swaddle should not be too tightly wrapped around the baby as it might lead to suffocation or problem in the hips (hip dysplasia), if done in a wrong way (3).

What Are The Benefits Of Swaddling?

Several other benefits of swaddling your baby apart from promoting good sleep are as follows (4):

• Aids better and longer sleep

• Can be put to sleep on their back easily

• Helps prevent the startle reflex, which means the baby will not startle in the middle of their sleep.

• Helps reduce separation anxiety in your baby as the swaddle imitates a mother’s womb, making the baby feel safe.

• Helps reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) as it keeps pillows, blankets, or toys away from the baby’s reach and crib.

How To Swaddle A Baby?

Knowing the correct swaddling technique is important. Here is the step-by-step guide to swaddling a baby correctly (1) (4).

• Spread out the swaddling blanket on a flat surface and arrange the blanket in a diamond shape, with the bottom pointing towards you.

• Fold the top edge of the blanket, making it in the shape of a loose triangle.

• Place your baby on the blanket with their feet pointing towards you and their shoulders below the blanket’s fold.

• Place your baby’s right arm next to their body by slightly bending the arm. Next, fold the same side of the blanket over your baby’s arm and body and tuck it underneath their body on the other side. Remember to leave your baby’s left hand free.

• Loosely fold the bottom of the blanket over the baby’s feet.

• Take the remaining part (left corner) of the blanket and pull it over the left arm and across the right side of the body.

What Are The Safety Considerations When Swaddling?

Here are a few safety tips you should follow when swaddling a baby (5) (1) (4):

• Ensure the swaddle is properly wrapped around the baby so it does not loosen during the night, putting your baby at risk of suffocation.

• There might be chances your baby is getting overheated if the swaddle is too tight or the room’s temperature is warm. Check for the signs of sweating, flushness, discomfort, or rapid breathing.

• Place the baby on their back after swaddling. Laying babies on their back when sleeping helps reduce the risk of SIDS.

• Leave enough room inside the swaddle for the free movement of their hips and legs.

• Stop swaddling your baby once they start to roll over to their sides.

References

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